(4) K-3 Twelve "lightly adapted" stories are collected in one hefty volume. Some were previously published as beginning readers, but all are presented as picture books here. Fans of the familiar characters and predictable situations won't be deterred by the bland illustrations and story lines.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. In Adventure, Little Critter goes fishing with his dad and they suffer a number of near disasters. In Pick Us, Little Critter and his friends organize a pet adoption fair on behalf of the local animal shelter. Problems arise and are immediately resolved in these tame and choppy easy readers, but there are plenty of humorous details in Mayer's cheery illustrations. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Little Critter: Just an Adventure at Sea and Little Critter: Just Pick Us, Please!

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. In Adventure, Little Critter goes fishing with his dad and they suffer a number of near disasters. In Pick Us, Little Critter and his friends organize a pet adoption fair on behalf of the local animal shelter. Problems arise and are immediately resolved in these tame and choppy easy readers, but there are plenty of humorous details in Mayer's cheery illustrations. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Little Critter: Just an Adventure at Sea and Little Critter: Just Pick Us, Please!

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter's class goes to Sea Park, encountering manatees, seals, and a good soaking at the whale show. Notwithstanding Mayer's recognizable cartoony illustrations and bland text, the brief, declarative sentences should attract emergent readers. Reissued as part of the sixtieth anniversary of the I Can Read series, this paper-over-board edition includes eight appended pages of the series' history and some background on beloved series characters.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter and Little Sister discover a baby bird out of its nest without its momma. When neither home nor parents can be found, their family cares for the bird until it flies away. Seasons change in Mayer's trademark illustrations before the now-grown bird returns with a family. The inclusion of bird care details buoys this otherwise unoriginal story that features simple, declarative sentences for emerging readers.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) PS Seven previously published stories--four early readers, three picture books--are collected in one hefty volume. Little Critter attends a fall festival, hunkers down during a powerful storm, takes school field trips, has a show-and-share crisis, plays in the snow, and helps an elderly neighbor. Fans of the familiar characters and predictable situations won't be deterred by the bland illustrations and story lines.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter notices that Bunella, a new student, seems to be the teacher's pet (taking attendance, passing out work sheets, and hushing classmates). All annoyance is forgotten when Bunella hits a home run and wins the ball game. Short, declarative sentences with accompanying cartoony illustrations offer a pleasant if pointed lesson in this story for newly emergent readers.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Little Critter's grandma "isn't feeling very well. We decide to go and cheer her up with love." Along the way each member of the family needs--and receives--a little love. When they get to the grandparents' house, Grandma feels better: "I just needed a little love." It's Mayer's usual Little Critter fare, cartoony pictures and bland story, but fans will feel the love.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter excitedly prepares for Saturday's Critterville Kite Flying Contest, but he runs into trouble while practicing. Grandpa saves the day by crafting a ribbon-winning ("for the most original") kite. The bland story features Mayer's familiar characters facing a challenge and predictably coming out for the better. Simple word repetition and large typeface will aid the brand-new reader.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. After Little Critter's pet cat makes a mess of Dad’s newspaper and Mom's knitting, she's scolded and runs up a tree, where she gets stuck. The fire department rescues her, but everyone is still mad. When she protects Little Sister from a scary dog, everyone sings her praises. It's a bland story, but Little Critter fans will enjoy the familiar characters and situations.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 In this wordless story, a young octopus seeks adventure. Finding himself in the clutches of a determined (walrus) chef, he must make his way home. Some of the cartoon-panel illustrations are a little hard to read, but the action is mostly clear. Mayer's illustrations feature personified animals out to get the little green octopus on land, and undersea creatures welcoming him back.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Little Critter is excited when planting time arrives. However, unexpected hard work--especially waiting--is required after a trip to the garden store. One or two simple sentences are supported by illustrations on each page. It's the usual story, but readers familiar with Little Critter will enjoy the gentle mischief while finding the spider and mouse on most pages.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 When Mom vetoes a puppy, the narrator buys a tag-sale dinosaur egg. It hatches with disastrous results; by the end of the story, the puppy seems like a good option, so Mom buys one. Effective comic pacing and colorful illustrations with an engaging mixture of fantasy and reality help bolster the familiar story line.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Mayer's Little Critter is excited to help his dad do chores around the house and run some errands. As always, Little Critter tries his best, but he somehow manages to make things more difficult for his ever-patient parent (perhaps the book's real audience). Mayer's familiar pictures extend the easy-to-read text.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Being "just a little sick" and staying home from school sounds like a pretty good deal at first. But as Little Critter soon realizes, it really means resting, going to the doctor's office, etc.--not all it's cracked up to be. Though the story is as bland as clear fluids, the familiar topic combined with this well-known character may be comforting to readers.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. During an autumn family outing, the Critters pick apples and pumpkins and go on a hayride (Festival). Little Critter's class goes to Sea Park, where he encounters sharks, manatees, and a good soaking at the whale show (Park). Mayer's trademark illustrations (and the texts themselves) are expectedly bland, but the books are accessible to new readers. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: The Fall Festival and Going to the Sea Park.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. During an autumn family outing, the Critters pick apples and pumpkins and go on a hayride (Festival). Little Critter's class goes to Sea Park, where he encounters sharks, manatees, and a good soaking at the whale show (Park). Mayer's trademark illustrations (and the texts themselves) are expectedly bland, but the books are accessible to new readers. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: The Fall Festival and Going to the Sea Park.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Little Critter introduces beginning readers to his town. He points out the post office, the police station, the library, and the movie theater and explains a bit about what happens in each place: "This is our diner. Sometimes we come here for lunch. Yum!" Mayer's recognizable ink and watercolor illustrations add humorous details to the bland text.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. In these bland safety-themed books, Little Critter takes a field trip to the firehouse and rescues his dad from a locked basement by calling 911. Targeted for emergent readers, the writing features simple, direct sentences using basic words. Busy and bright cartoon illustrations support the texts to help with reading comprehension. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Going to the Firehouse and To the Rescue!

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. In these bland safety-themed books, Little Critter takes a field trip to the firehouse and rescues his dad from a locked basement by calling 911. Targeted for emergent readers, the writing features simple, direct sentences using basic words. Busy and bright cartoon illustrations support the texts to help with reading comprehension. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Going to the Firehouse and To the Rescue!

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey